Marking-machine.



. PATBNTLD 1550.29, `1903. G. I.. RICHARDSON an II. s, WILooX.

MARKING MACHINE.' APPLICATION FILED sEPT. 3, '1903.

No MODLL.

w i. J A

M cams wams w, wurm UNITED STATES Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. RICHARDSON AND HENRY S. WILCOX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNORS TO TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LIMITED, A

CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

MARKING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 748,529, datedDecember 29, 1903.

Application filed September 3, 1903. Serial No. 171.798. (No model.) Y

To all whom, it Icq/tty concern: Be it known that we, GEORGE L. RICHARD-`soN and HENRY S. WILOOX, citizens of the actors to arrange differentcombinations thereof for distinguishing purposes.

The invention has for an object to improve `the construction andarrangement of the centering-lever, marking-dial, and cooperatingplaten, whereby a simultaneous movement ofthe marking-dial and platentoward and from each other is secured and an automatic movement of theinking-roller during the movement of the dial andplaten.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved locking meansfor the marking-dials, whereby any one or more of the same may bereleased and rotated while the remaining ones are held in theirpreviouslyadjusted positions, and also to provide an indicating-dialoperatively connected to the marking-dial, so as to rotate in unisontherewith and indicate the character on the marking-dial which is turnedinto printing posil" tion.

Other' and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth, and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through themachine. Fig. 2 is a top plan with a portion of the casing broken away.Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine, andFig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical section showing the marking-dialin its raised or initial position. Like letters of reference refer tolike parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates a standard or support of any suitablecharacter,having secured to the upper part thereof a gooseneckheadcasing A', which is provided at its front with an enlarged portionA2 to receive the operating mechanism and beneath this portion with acollar A3, through which the post of the platen is adapted to slide, ashereinafter described. At the rear of the head-casing A' the center- 35ing-lever B is pivotally mounted -by means of the pivot pin or shaft B',and the forward end B2 thereof is projected at substantially a rightangle to the depending end B3. This forward end B2 is provided withopposite 6o plates B4, which form a bifurcated or forked support for theindicating-dials C and the marking-dials D, hereinafter described. Thedepending end B3 of the centering-lever is provided with a plate E,having a lng E', 65 provided with a slot extending diagonally to vtheportion B3 of the lever, which slot is adapted to receive the pin E2,carrying a suitable friction-roller and extending between the bifurcatedarms Esof the impression-lever 7o E4, which is pivotally mounted in thecasing at E5. The opposite end of this lever is provided with a curvedhead E6, disposed within a slotted portion E7 of the post E8, whichcarries at its upper end the platen or impression-button E9, providedwith an elastic or rubber cushion E10 to contact with the printingcharacters upon the dial D. The lower end of the depending portion B-3of the centering-lever is provided with a slot B5, adapt- 8o ed toreceive a pin B6, extending from acran klever B7, whichis pivotallymounted upon the standard at B8, and the opposite arm B9 thereof isconnected by means of a rod with suitable mechanism for operating thesame-for 85 instance, a treadle. The parts are normally held in theirraised position by means of a springF connected at one end F to the endB3 of the centering-lever and atV its opposite end F2 to the post F3,carried by the stand- 9o ard, said spring being Vshown under tension inFig. 1, wherethe parts are in printing or depressed position. A

The marking-dials D are rotatably mounted upon a rotatable-shaft Gr,which has its bearings at opposite ends in the bifurcated head B4 of thecentering-lever, and one end thereof is extended through a suitableslotted aperture in the casing-head A' and provided with a milledoperating-head G'. This shaft-G is loo provided with a recess adapted tocontain a spring G2 and a pin G3, one of said pins being provided foreach of the marking-dials D, and

tooth H', adapted tofit between adjacent' teeth of the gears D. Theperiphery of the marking-dial is provided with any desired number orcharacter of printing devices. For instance,as herein shown, six dialsare mounted upon the shaft, the two outer ones of which contain letters,that on the left being lettered from A to K and the dial upon the righthaving the letters from f L to Y, omitting theletters Q, II/and X. Theintermediate dials are successively n umbered from l to O and areprovided with a dash and blank space, the system of characters usedbeing indicated upon the face-plate I, secured to the front casing A2 ofthe machine. The indicating-dials C coperate each with one of themarking-dials and are provided with teeth or faces C', containing char-`acters corresponding to those upon the marking-dials, said teeth beingsuitably spaced apart so as to forma meshing gear with the spacedcharacters D2 upon ther marking-dials, thus insuring positive rotationof the dials together as they are shifted and directly indicating thecharacter which is disposed in printing position by means of theaperture C2 in the front of the casing, which may be provided with asuitable glass or other transparent protection.

The marking-dials D are normally locked by means of the latch H, so thatthey cannot be rotated upon the shaft G, an independent latch beingprovided for each of the dials;

This latch is slidably mounted at its opposite ends in cross-bars H2 andH3, carried by the bifurcated head B4, the end H4 of the latch beingextended through said bars, while the latch is normally projectedoutward by means of a tension-spring H5 extending between the face ofthebar H2 and a shoulder H6 upon the latch. This latch is adapted to beoperated when the dials are in their raised position by means of apush-button I', mounted in the face-plate I and normally held projectedby means of spring l2. The inner face of this button is provided with acontact-plate I3, adapted to contact with one end, H4, of the latch,thus-removing the tooth H thereof from contact with the indexing-gear Dand permitting the rotation of the shaft G, which carries therewith thereleased marking-dial,

y the remaining dials being held by their latches and permitting theshaft, with the pin G3, to rotate within the hubs of the dials withoutchanging the position thereof. One of these push-buttons is provided foreach of the marking-dials and locking-latches connected therewith, sothat each of the dials upon the shaft may be independently operated.

For the purpose of inking the markingdial an inking-roller J isrotatably mounted by means of lever-arms J at opposite sides of the headB4, which levers are mounted upon a pivot J2, extending inward from thesides of the head-casing A2, while the levers kare provided at theirpoints of pivotal connection with slots J 5, shown by dotted lines inFig. l and extending laterally of the levers J The ends of these leversbeyond their pivotal points are connected to the head B4y by means of apivot J4, which in the present illustration constitutes the axis ofrotation for the indicating-dial C. This inkingroller is adapted totravel over the face of an ink-well J5, which is provided with asuitable aperture J for the escape ot ink therefrom, while below thiswell an apertured closing-plate J 7 is provided beneath the mark-ling-dial through which the character of said dial is adapted to pass inthe printing or marking operation. With the parts in the position shownin Fig. l it will be observed that as the head carrying the dials risesto its normal position under the tension of the spring F the end J4 ofthe inking-lever will be carried around and over the pivotal point J2thereof, thus causing the inking-roller to travel below the characterupon the markingdial which is in position for printing, thereby applyinga fresh supply of ink for the next impression. This manner of mountingthe inking-roller also provides a very quick action thereof, so thattheI roller is given its full length of travel during a comparativelyshort movement of the centering-lever.

In the operation of the machine it Will be observed that the parts inFig. l are in their ydepressed or printing position, whereby thematerial or goods to be marked is carried by the platen into contactwith the marking-dial by a simultaneous movement of the dial and platentoward and from each other. When the tension upon the treadle oroperating means is released, the spring will restore the parts to theirraised position, and during such movement the dial is inked for asubsequent impression, as heretofore described. When the parts are intheir raised position, if it be desired to change the printingcharacters upon the marking-dial the push-button controlling thelocking-latch for the dial which is to be moved is depressed, thusreleasing the dial and permitting its rotation until the desiredcharacter appears at the opening opposite the indicating-dial, when thepushbutton is released, thus permitting the latch to engage theindexing-gear upon the marking-dial and hold the same in its adjustedposition for a subsequent marking operation. It will be seen that theconstruction of the dial mounted by the spring-pin upon the shaftpermits the movement of any one of the dials with the shaft, while theremaining dials being locked will be held against such IIO rotation. Theconstruction also permits the operator to always have 4in sight theigures which are to be used for marking the goods,

so that mistakes from misnumbering can be eectually avoided, while thesimple and eco-` nomical construction of the parts effects the .mostpositive and eicient results in the marking operation and permits theuse of the machine by persons not especially skilled in the operation ofsuch machines.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and configuration without departing from the spirit j shaftcarrying said dial for rotating the same, an indicatingdial operativelyconnected to rotate in unison with the printing-dial, a loc k`ing-latch` engaging said printing-dial to re#` tain it against rotationwith its shaft, and means to release said latch.

3. In a markingmachine, a printingdial having characters and projectionsupon` its' periphery, and an indicating-dial having correspondingcharacters and projections upon its periphery meshing with those uponthe printing-dial.

4F. In a markingmachine, a printingdial, a shaft for rotatablysupporting the dial, an indicating-dial having a geared periphery engaging the printing-dial, a locking-latch to retain the printing-dialagainst rotation with its shaft, an indexing-gear upon the printing,dial lo be engaged by said latch, and means for releasing said latch.

5. In a marking-machine, a printing-dial, a

j shaft for rotatably supporting said dial, an indicating-dial having ageared periphery eni gaging the printing-dial, a locking-latch to retainthe printing-dial against rotation with its shaft, an indexing-gear uponthe printingdial to be engaged by said latch, means for releasing saidlatch, and a spring for normally Apivotally mounted therein having itsopposite holding said latch in contact with said gear.

6. In a marking-machine, a printing-dial, a shaft for rotatablysupporting said dial, an indicating-dial operatively connected there-With, a sliding locking-latch engaging said printing-dial to retain itagainst rotation with Vits shaft, a push-button mounted upon the` casingindependent of the latch, and means for normally projecting said latchtoward said button.

7. Ina marking-machine, aprinting-dial, a shaft for supporting said dialfor rotation.

therewith or independent thereof, means for locking the same in positionagainst rotation with said shaft, and independent means carried by thecasing for releasing said locking means.

8. In a marking-machine, a printing-dial, means for locking the same inposition, a pivoted lever carrying said dial and locking means within acasing, a coperating platen beneath the dial, and independent meanscarried by the casing to engage the locking means when the printing-dialis out of contact with the platen.

9. In a marking-machine, a printingdial, means for locking the same inposition, independent means carried by the casing for releasing saidlooking means, a pivoted lever carrying said dial, a coperating platenbeneath the dial, and means carried by said lever for reciprocating saidplaten simultaneously with the impression movement of the dial.

10. In a marking-machine, a printing-dial, means for locking the sameinposition, independent means carried by the casing for releasing saidlocking means, a pivoted lever carryingsaid dial, a coperating platenbeneath the dial, means carried by said lever for reciprocating saidplaten simultaneously with the impression movement of the dial, aninking device, and means for automatically operating the same in themovement of the dial and platen. l i

1l. In a marking-machine, a printing-dial, means for locking the same inposition, independent means carried bythe casing for releasing saidlooking means, a pivoted lever carrying said dial, a coperating platenbeneath the dial, means carried by said lever for reciprocating saidplaten simultaneously with the impression movement of the dial, aninking device and means for 'automatically operating the same in themovement of the dial and platen, and an operating-shaft upon which theprinting-dial is mounted for rotationwhen released.

. l2. In a marking-machine, a casing, a lever pivotally mounted thereinand having its opposite ends beyond said pivot disposed at an angle toeach other, a printing-dial mounted upon one end of said lever, amovable platen beneath said dial, an impression-lever for operating saidplaten, and means connecting said impression-lever with the opposite endof the angular lever from the printing-dial.

13. In a marking-machine, a casing, a lever ends beyondsaid pivotdisposed at an angle to each other, a printing-dial mounted upon one endof said lever, a movable platen beneath said dial, an im pression-leverfor operating saidplaten, meansV connecting said impressi`on-lever withthe opposite end of the angular lever from the printing-dial, means formoving the angular lever in one direction,

i `and a spring for restoring saidlever to its initial position. Y

14. In a marking-machine, a casing, an an- IOC) -gularlever pivotallymounted therein, a printing-dial mounted upon one end of said lever,amovable platen beneath said dial, animpression lever for operating saidplaten, means connecting said impression-lever with the opposite end ofthe angular lever from the printing-dial, means for moving the angulardial against rotation with said shaft.

l5. In a marking-machine, a pivoted centering-lever, a printing-dialrotatably mounted thereon, an indicating-dial having peripherallydisposed characters thereon operatively connected to rotate in unisonwith the printing-dial to indicate the printing characters in operativeposition, and a casing inclosing said dials and provided with asightopening opposite the indicating-dial when in its position at rest.

16.V In a marking-machine, a centering-lever, a printing-dial rotatablymounted thereon, an indicating-dial operatively connected to rotate inunison with the printing-dial, a casing inclosing said dials andprovided with a sight-opening opposite the indicating-dial,

an operating-shaft upon which printing-dial is mounted for rotationtherewith, locking means for holding said printing-dial againstVrotation with said shaft, and means carried by the casing for releasingsaid locking means.

17. In a marking-machine, a centering-lever, a printing-dial rotatablymounted thereon, an indicating-dial operatively connected to rotate inunison with the printing-dial, a casing inclosing said dials andprovided with a sight-opening opposite the indicating-dial,

- an operating-shaft for the printing-dial, locking means for holdingsaid printing-dial against rotation with said shaft, means for releasingsaid locking means, an ink-reservoir supported by said casing, aninking-roller adapted to travel over said reservoir and printing-dial, asupporting-arm for said roller pivoted to said casing, and a pivotalconnection between said arm and the lever carrying said dials.

18. In a marking-machine, a centering-lever, a printing-dial rotatablymounted thereon, an indicating-dial operatively connected to rotate withthe printing-dial, a casing inclosing said dials and provided with asightopening opposite the indicating-dial, an operating-shaft for theprinting-dial, locking means for holding said printing-dial againstrotation with said shaft, means for releasing said locking means, anink-reservoir supported by said casing, an inking-roller adapted totravel over said reservoir and printingdial, a supporting-arm for saidroller pivoted to said casing, a pivotal connection between said arm andthe lever carrying said dial, an impression-platen provided with asliding post, a pivoted impression-lever connected with said post, and aslotted bracket extending from the dial-supporting lever and connectedwith one end of the impression-lever.

19. In a marking-machine, a centering-1ever, a printing-dial rotatablymounted thereon, an indicating-dial operatively connected to rotate withthe printing-dial, a casing inclosing said dials and provided with asightopening opposite the indicating-dial, an operating-shaft for theprinting-dial, locking means for holding said printing-dial againstrotation with said shaft, means for releasing said locking means, anink-reservoir supported by said casing, an inking-roller adapted totravel over said reservoir and printingdial, a supporting-arm for saidroller pivoted to said casing, a pivotal connection between said arm andthe lever carrying said dial, an impression -platen provided with asliding post, a pivoted impression-lever connected with said post, aslotted bracket extending from vthe dial-supporting lever and connectedwith one end of the impression-lever, a slot- 'ted lower end to saiddial-supporting lever,

a crank-arm connected to said end, and a spring extended from said endto a fixed point upon the casing.

20. ln a marking-machine, a pivoted lever, a printing-dial carriedthereby at one end, an arm pivoted to the casing and provided at one endwith an inking-roller and connected at its opposite end to thedial-carrying end of said pivoted lever, and means for oscillating saidlever.

21. In a marking-machine, a pivoted lever, a printing-dial carriedthereby, an arm pivoted to the casing by a slotted opening extendingtransversely of the arm and connected at its upper end to thedial-carrying end of said pivoted lever, an inking-roller carried by theopposite end of the arm below said lever, and means for oscillating saidlever.

22. Ina marking-machine, aseries of printing-dials each provided with anindexing device, an operating-shaft, means for frictionally retainingsaid dials in position upon said shaft to rotate therewith, a series oflocking devices to engage indexing devices for retaining said d-ialsagainst rotation with said shaft, and a series of independent releasingdevices carried by the casing and adapted to engage said locking meanswhen at rest and in alinement with the releasing devices to release thesame from the dials and permit rotation thereof with the shaft.

23. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck head-casing,anangularly-disposed lever pivoted between its ends in the rear of saidhead-casing, a printing-dial carried by one end of said lever in theforward portion of said head-casing, and a movable platen connected tothe opposite end of said lever and coperating with said printing-dial.

24. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck head-casing,anangularly-disposed lever pivoted in the rear of said head-casing, aprinting-dial carried thereby in the forward IOC portion of saidhead-casing, a movable platen cooperating with said printing-dial, apivoted impression-lever connected with the post of said platen, alaterally-disposed pin upon the opposite end of said impression-lever,and a bracket carried by the depending portion of the angularly-disposedlever and provided with a slot to receive said pin.

25. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck head-casin g,anang.,ularly-disposed lever pivoted in the rear of said head-casing, aprinting-dial carried thereby in the forward portion of said head-Casing, a movable platen coperating with said printing-diaha pivotedimpression-lever connected with the post of said platen, alaterally-disposed pin upon the opposite end of said impression lever, abracket carried by the depending portion of the angularly-disposed leverand provided with a slot to receive said pin, locking means forretaining said printing-dial against rotation, and means carried by thefront face of the head-casing for releasing said locking means when thedial is in its uppermost position.

26. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck head-casing,anangularly-disposed lever pivoted in the rear of said head-casing, aprinting-dial carried thereby in the forward portion of saidhead-casing, a movable platen coperating with said printing-dial, apivoted impression-lever connected with the post of said platen, alaterally-disposed pin upon the opposite end of said impression-1ever, abracket carried by the depending portion of the angularly-disposed leverand provided with a slot to receive said pin, locking means forretaining said printing-dial against rotation,I means carried by thefront face of the head-casing for releasing said locking means when thedial is in its uppermost position, an indicating-dial provided withperipheral teeth bearing characters corresponding with those upon theprinting-dial and intermeshing therewith, and a sight-opening in thefront of the head-casing in alinement with the indicating-dial.

27. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck head-casing,anangularly-disposed lever pivoted in the rear ofsaid head-casing, aprinting-dial carried thereby in the forward portion of saidhead-casing, a movable platen cooperating with said printing-dial, apivoted impression-lever connected with the post of said platen, alaterally-disposed pin upon the opposite end of said impression-lever, abracket carried by the depending portion of the angularly-disposed,leverand provided with a slot to receive said pin, locking means forretaining said printing-dial against rotation, means carried by thefront face of the head-casing for releasing said locking means when thedial is in its uppermost position, an indicating-dial provided withperipheral teeth bearing characters corresponding with those upon theprinting-dial and intermeshing therewith, a sight-opening in the frontofthe head-casing in alinement with the indicating-dial, anink-reservoir carried by the under face of the front portion of thehead-casing, an arm pivoted upon the casing having a laterally-disposedslot and mounted upon a pivot-pin from the side of said casing, aninking-roller at the lower end of said arm, and a pivotal connectionbetween the upper end of said arm and the shaft of the indicating-dial.

28. In a marking-machine, a standard, a gooseneck headcasing,anangularly-disposed lever pivoted in the rear of said head-casing, aprinting-dial carried thereby in the forward portion of saidhead-casing, a movable platen coperating with said printing-dial, apivoted impression-lever connected with the post of said platen, alaterally-disposed pin upon theV opposite end of said impression-lever,a bracket carried by the depending portion of the angnlarly-disposedlever and provided with a slot to receive said pin, locking means forretaining said printing-dialagainst rotation, means carried by the frontface of the head -casing for releasing said locking means when the dialis in its uppermost position, an indicating-dial provided withperipheral teeth bearing characters corresponding with those upon theprinting-dial and intermeshing therewith, a sight-opening in the frontof the head-casing in alinement with the indicating-dial, anink-reservoir carried by the under face of the Jiront portion of the loohead-casing, an arm pivoted upon the casing having a laterally-disposedslot and mounted upon a pivot-pin from the side of said casing, aninking-roller at the lower end of said arm,

a pivotal l connection-between the upper end 105 of said arm and theshaft of the indicatingdial, a crank-arm pivotally mounted in saidstandard and connected with the slotted depending end of thedial-supporting lever, and

a restoring-spring extending from said de- 11o pending end to a postcarried by the forward part of the standard.

29. In a marking-machine, a plurality of printing-dials frictionallymounted upon an operating-shaft for movement therewith and 115independently thereof, independent means for locking each dial againstrotation with the shaft, and independent releasing means for eachdial-locking means.'

In testimony whereof we affix our signa- 12o tures in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE L. RICHARDSON.

HENRY S. WILCOX;

Witnesses:

GEORGE C. ROBERTS,

J. WEBB GRIEEEN.

